9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ

About the Panelists

Patricia Antliff

Pat Antliff B.A., CISSP, ISSAP/MP is a seasoned Cybersecurity Consultant specializing in the areas of cryptography and risk management.  She brings over 30 years of progressive experience in managing and providing leadership to large teams of information technology professionals.  Pat provided vision, innovation and strategic leadership and with her team, transformed security risk management in the Ontario Government.   She was instrumental in implementing and then responsible for operating the largest Public Key Infrastructure deployment in Canada.  Pat continues to provide cybersecurity consulting services in the private sector. In addition to her professional pursuits, Pat is a musician, avid adventure traveller and award-winning photographer.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and children in Toronto.  

Tasmia Abbas

Tasmia Abbas is a final-year student at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ's Desautels Faculty of Management, specializing in Finance and Entrepreneurship. She has built a strong foundation in entrepreneurship through internships at BDC, White Star Capital’s New York team, and Carbon6—a startup founded by Harvard Business School graduates. During her time at 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ, Tasmia has been actively involved in the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics & Equity, 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ Ventures, the Desautels Technology Club, and Front Row Ventures. She played a key role in advancing innovation on campus, conceptualizing and leading 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ’s first-ever Women in Technology Conference, launching the HealthTech Innovation Lab in partnership with Mayo Clinic, and establishing the Laidley Centre Student Fund.  Post-graduation, Tasmia aspires to join a biotech startup, leveraging her experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and entrepreneurship to drive impactful innovation. 

Katherine Lake

Katherine is a final-year student studying Finance and Sustainability at Desautels. Since joining the co-coordinating the 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ Investment Club (MIC) inaugural Women in Finance Convention in her first semester, she has been dedicated to lifting up diverse voices in business. Leadership roles include being a Fixed Income Senior Analyst within the Honours Investment Management program, the Co-Executive Director of the 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ International Portfolio Challenge, and the Chair of the most recent MIC Women in Finance Convention. Outside of finance, she loves to volunteer with college readiness programs, as well as sing in choirs around Montreal.  

Janet Drysdale

Janet Drysdale is a seasoned and versatile executive with nearly 30 years of cross-functional leadership in the transportation industry having held executive positions in Finance, Sustainability, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations. Ms. Drysdale was appointed Senior Vice-President & Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer in March 2023. She is responsible for driving CN’s stakeholder engagement and communications strategies and has direct accountability for North American public and government affairs, media relations, corporate communications, and investor relations. Ms. Drysdale has long been an advocate for the rail industry and North America’s critical supply chains, increasing the representation of women in rail, and the transition to a low carbon economy. Ms. Drysdale is an independent director of Rumo S.A., Brazil’s largest freight railway. She also sits on the boards of the Railway Association of Canada and the Canadian-American Business Council. In 2020, Ms. Drysdale was recognized by WXN as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the executive leadership category. Ms. Drysdale holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University and an MBA from 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ. In 2021, Ms. Drysdale holds the Global Competent Boards ESG certification (GCB.D).

Andrea Nicholls

Andrea is an experienced finance leader with over 30 years of expertise in both private and public companies spanning various sectors including legal (professional services), big-4, high-tech, financial services, multimedia, digital, pharma and shared services. Andrea is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Dentons Canada LLP and leads the cross-country Finance team of over 100 people, partnering with the business to drive the strategic initiatives of the Firm. She is a member of Dentons’ Canada National Management Committee; the Executive Sponsor and co-founder of Dentons Canada’s Black Professionals Network;  a member of their Inclusion & Diversity Council and the ESG Ignitor group. Prior to joining Dentons Canada LLP, she served as VP Finance at Triton Digital, a mid-stage tech company.  Andrea is an alumni of PwC Montreal, where she started her career.  She sat on Board of Directors of HSBC Bank Canada and currently sits on the boards of Centraide de Grand Montréal (United Way Montréal), the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Conference Board of Canada.   She is currently a member of the advisory committee of the McConnell Foundation, chairing the Audit and IT Committee, and was formerly a member of the Advisory Board Subcommittee - EDI at Desautels Faculty of Management, 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ. She is very committed to promoting diversity in the Canadian business landscape and does so through active engagement with organizations.  Andrea is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Graduate Diploma in Public Accountancy as well as a Bachelor of Commerce from 9IÖÆ×÷³§Ãâ·Ñ. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Illinois.   She has completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program and obtained her ICD.D Designation as well as the Competent Boards & ESG Designation (GCB.D) and Certification.